Quality Self Catering Accommodation, Lincolnshire

The Stables are situated next to the Manor House at the edge of the village of Martin, in Lincolnshire. These attractive, historic (Grade II Listed) Stables have recently been restored to create two units of quality self-catering holiday accommodation and a small gift shop and tearooms. Set in the heart of rural Lincolnshire the village of Martin lies centrally between the Wolds to the east, the fens to the south and the historic city of Lincoln to the north. Martin is within easy reach of the market towns of Sleaford and Horncastle and the Victorian spa town and famous golfing centre of Woodhall Spa. Lincoln is only 20 minutes and Newark just over ½ hour away by car. Some of Lincolnshire’s most beautiful coastline is less than an hour’s drive away. The gently rolling countryside is ideal for walking or cycling with many walks and cycle routes nearby. Lincolnshire is also renowned for its coarse angling and the area is rich in wildlife, with many Nature Reserves, ancient woodlands and interesting gardens to visit.

The Hayloft - Sleeps 2 + 2

This is the newly restored first floor which was once the Hayloft. It is warm and welcoming with a wood burning stove and cast iron radiators fed by the wood pellet boiler.

The open plan living area and kitchen has exposed beams, lime-washed walls and real wood floors.
Cotton covered sofa and chairs, a 26" Sony TV / DVD and an old fashioned record/ CD player make the living area a room to relax in.
The kitchen is equipped with a Belfast sink, Rangemaster cooker, dishwasher, microwave, toaster, kettle and all those other items needed for a great little break away.
Tucked away in a corner of this room is a double ‘box-bed’ (a bed boxed-in by wood and enclosed by a curtain similar to those found in old-fashioned crofters’ cottages), suitable for either 2 adults, or (several!) kids.
The main bedroom has a double brass bed, small fireplace and a little en-suite bathroom with toilet & sink.
The main bathroom at the other end of the Hayloft is a haven of peace and tranquility. Here you can soak in the deep copper bateau spa-bath whilst watching your favourite TV programme, relax in the sauna or freshen up in the steam shower!

Price: £450-£600 per week Short Breaks also available.

The Bothy - Sleeps 2 +1

The Bothy accommodation is all at ground floor level. It is heated throughout by underfloor heating and is lovely and warm, even on cold winter nights.

The main living area is in the old part of the Stables which at one time served as a ‘bothy’ or living and eating area for the stable boys and shepherds who worked the local farmland. It has a wood-burning stove, soft leather seating, a Sony 26” TV / DVD and reproduction record /CD player. There is also a single ‘box-bed’ under the stairs in this room – ideal for child or grown-up.
The kitchen is fully equipped with microwave, dishwasher, kettle and toaster whilst an ‘Everhot’ cooker keeps this area cosy and warm.
The main bedroom at the back of the accommodation has a double cast iron Sleigh bed and looks peacefully out over the garden.
A special treat is the unusual wooden bath in the bathroom - a novelty for both adults and children to enjoy - and a small TV allows you to watch your favourite soap whilst bathing!
Special care has been taken to make this accommodation as wheelchair-friendly as possible. The floor is level throughout and doors are all extra wide. The kitchen has been designed with wheelchair users in mind and there is a wet room shower area and grab bars in the bathroom.

Price: £350 - £500 per week Short breaks also available.

Tea Room & Gift Shop

The Tearoom & Gift Shop is located in the old part of the Stables originally used for stabling the horses.

Original mangers, hayracks, stall partitions and exposed timber beams, as well as brick floors and lime-washed walls all create a distinctively cosy atmosphere.
The food served will be simple country fare, mainly light snacks, soups, sandwiches, baked potatoes and home-made cakes.
Thel gift shop is to be found in the original Coach room which again is full of character with a beamed ceiling, brick floors and lime-washed walls.
A range of both locally-made crafts and distinctive and unusual gifts from independent suppliers will be for sale from June onwards. Examples include natural products from the garden (such as dried herbs, fragrant flowers), traditional gardening items (such as trugs, old-fashioned seed varieties), natural materials for use on the craft courses (see below) and other gift items inspired by nature.

The Restoration

The restoration of the Stables really started about 10 years ago when we began to look into the different ways of restoring an old building. The building work started in June 2007 and now, nine months later, the restoration (by the historic builders, Taskers of Sleaford) is complete and the Stables are now ready for their new use.

Some aspects of the restoration include;

Original features including doors, windows, timber beams, stable stalls and mangers have been repaired using traditional methods and materials and the new extension has been built using materials that complement the age and original use of the Stables.
Only materials with natural breathable qualities were used in the restoration because they allow old buildings to ‘breathe’.
Although we initially chose natural materials because we cared for our old building we soon realised that these same materials were good for the environment too. And because the natural materials we used are chemical free as well as breathable, a healthy environment has also been created for people.

Some of the features include;

The walls are insulated with battens of cotton and hemp (plus some sheep’s wool) and boards made of wood fibre. This is covered by breathable lime plaster and lime-wash.
Layers and layers of highly insulating and breathable lime and re-cycled glass (called glaster) lie beneath the ground floor.
Natural breathable paints and wood stains have also been used on floors, doors and window frames.
Sofas and chairs are covered with either cotton/linen or leather, mattresses are made of organic Welsh wool and organic cotton, towels and bedding are cotton (mostly organic) and rugs are made of wool or cotton.
These materials are all beneficial to the environment and to people and have been produced directly from plants (or, in the case of wool, sheep!) and are chemical-free.
Chemical-free soaps and cleaning products are provided for each stay.
Solar panels and a wood pellet boiler together fuel the upstairs radiators and the downstairs underfloor heating system as well as providing lots of hot water.
There is also a water harvesting system that provides rainwater for the garden - we plan to eventually use rainwater to flush the loos and supply the washing machine.

Courses

Small courses will also be run in the summer. Ideas at the moment include craft courses such as rag-rug making, knitting, patchwork quilting, spinning and weaving, and gardening-related courses such as growing and using lavender and organic vegetables.

Booking Enquiries

For more Information or to make a Booking please contact Sherry Forbes on

Tel: 01526 378717 or 07979 750760

Email: sherryforbes@hotmail.com

Location

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From Metheringham take the B1189 (signposted Woodhall Spa) for around 3 miles, then turn left onto the B1191. The village of Martin is about 500 m ahead. Continue into the village and take the first right turning (primary school on the left) signposted Timberland. The driveway to the Manor House Stables is 2nd on the right, just before the end of the village speed limit

The nearest train station is at Metheringham (4 miles) whilst buses leave regularly to Lincoln, Sleaford and Woodhall Spa. Newark (with train connections to London and the rest of Britain) is about 45 minutes and Lincoln only 20 minutes by car.

What to do

The Royal Oak
Pub serving good homemade food
www.martintimberland.co.uk/martin/royaloak.php
Holmdale House Garden and Nursery, Curios and Collectables
Plant Nursery and Tearoom.
http://www.holmdalehouse.co.uk
The Penny Farthing Inn
Restuarant and pub
www.martintimberland.co.uk/timberland/penny/penny.php
Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre
Small Museum dedicated to RAF106 Bomber Squadron (WW 2)
www.metheringhamairfield.org
Dambusters Memorial
Monument in memory of the heroes from the 617 Squadron (WW 2)
www.dambusters.org.uk/woodhallspa.htm
Kinema in the Woods
A historic cinema
www.thekinemainthewoods.co.uk
National Golf Centre
Golf Course
www.woodhallspagolf.com
Tattershall Castle
Medieval Castle
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight Visitors Centre
Guided tours, exhibition, Lancasters, Spitfires, Hurricanes
www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/bbmf
Heckington Windmill
8-sailed Windmill
www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/section.asp?catId=631
Mrs Smith's Cottage
Cottage kept as a small Museum
http://www.oden.co.uk/mrssmith/
Cogglesford Mill
A working 18th C Watermill
http://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/section.asp?catId=625
Snipe Dales Country Park
Country park and Nature Reserve
www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves.snipe/index.php
Lincoln Castle
Norman castle, Victorian court and prison and a copy of the Magna Carta
www.castlexplorer.co.uk/england/lincoln/lincoln.php
Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral famous for its imp, visible from 25 miles away
www.lincolncathedral.com
Museum of Lincolnshire Life
Social History Museum of Lincolnshire and of Lincolnshire Regiments
www.aboutbritain.com/museumoflincolnshirelife.htm
Lincoln Boat Trips
Boat trips along the Witham and Fosdyke in Lincoln
www.lincolnboattrips.com/pages/default.shtml
Lincoln Ghost Walks
Historical and Ghostly walks around Lincoln
www.lincolnhistorywalks.co.uk/
Waddington Airfield and Viewing Area
Fully operational RAF airfield known for its Air Show in the summer
www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/spotting/waddington.html
Rand Farm Park
Working farm for children of all ages
www.randfarmpark.com/